USC vs. Washington State Pick
Can No. 16 Washington State pull off a cover at home, or even an upset win, when it plays host to No. 5 USC tonight at 10:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, USC is favored on the road, as the Trojans are getting odds of -6 points against Washington State. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 60 points. The road team has won three straight in this series while covering the spread in five straight. Tonight’s game takes place from Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington and will air live on ESPN.
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Washington State is 4-0 on the season, 1-0 in the Pac-12 and 2-2 against the spread this year. The Cougars have been great on both sides of the ball. The defense is allowing just 18.5 points and 262.3 yards per game. Their pass defense is holding opponents to 142.3 yards per contest. On offense, Washington State is putting up 43.8 points and 504.3 yards per game. The passing attack is one of the best in the country, averaging 432.5 yards per game. Luke Falk has thrown for 1,378 yards with 14 touchdowns and just one interception this season. Tavares Martin Jr. is the leading receiver with 26 catches for 390 yards and six touchdowns. The leading rusher is just Jamal Morrow, who has 193 yards and one touchdown.
USC is off to a 4-0 start on the season, with a 2-0 Pac-12 record and a 1-3 mark against the spread. The Trojans are putting up 37 points per game on offense to go with 492 yards per game. Sam Darnold is leading the Trojans with 1,225 passing yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Deontay Burnett has caught 33 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns while Ronald Jones II has run for 322 yards and five scores. Jones didn’t play in last week’s game due to a thigh injury, but he is expected to play tonight. The defense is allowing 24.8 points and 370.3 yards per contest, including just 216.8 passing yards per contest.
Bet on USC vs. Washington State
USC seems like the better team, but this is a big opportunity for Mike Leach to show his Cougars are for real. Washington State has the offense to compete with USC, but can the Cougars slow down the USC passing game? USC hasn’t been great on the road, going 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 on the road. Washington State is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 Pac-12 games and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 after a cover. I think the Cougars play up for this primetime contest and give USC all it can handle.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: WASHINGTON STATE +6